Teaching What Tough Is #ToughIs

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Disclosure: This is a compensated campaign that I am participating in with Brawny. All opinions are my own and do not reflect those of the brand.

I remember once when I was younger when I got really angry because in gym class we were supposed to climb a rope that was suspended from the ceiling.  We had to touch the ceiling and then either climb back down or drop off.  I’d get about halfway up and my hands, which had a lot of skin erosions on them, would start hurting and I’d drop off.  I complained to my Dad about it, and he asked me why I kept dropping off.  I told him it was hard to climb because my hands hurt.  Dad smiled and said, “If your hands hurt too much to climb the rope then don’t start climbing it.  If you do start climbing it, though, just remember that you can do hard things.”  The next time we had to climb the rope in gym class, I made it to the top because I kept telling myself as I ascended, “I can do hard things.”  You might recall, from my Smashing the Limits post, that my Mom and Dad allowed me to join the track team despite the doctor saying I couldn’t run because I couldn’t sweat.  To say that my parents did a phenomenal job of teaching what tough is would be an understatement.  It wasn’t until Mister was born that I had even an inkling of how hard it that may have been for my parents.

Mister was born affected by Hay Wells Syndrome, as well.  When he arrived, he had skin erosions on his scalp, across his shoulders, down his spine, and across his hips.  His skin was so incredibly fragile that the slightest friction tore it.  The nursing staff was instructed to handle him “only when necessary” and one staff member told me that I shouldn’t hold him.  I chose not to listen.  I knew, as I held him, that I would one day have to sit back and let him set his limits and encourage him to do hard things.

Hubs and I agree that teaching what tough is means allowing Mister to set his own limits and encouraging him to do hard things, just like my parents did with me.  It’s not always easy.  For example, we recently did a 5K together, and I could tell that he was starting to overheat.  I asked him, several times, if he needed to stop and cool off.  He kept telling me, “Mom, I got this.”  I knew that he just wanted to run.  Every bit of me wanted to tell him to sit his butt down and take a break.  But I remembered when my Mom swallowed her fear and let me run.  I reminded myself that he can do hard things, so I let him run.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen him prouder of himself.  Now he’s decided that he wants to train with me, so we can run more 5K’s together.  I think it will be fun to have a running buddy.

Brawny® Paper Towels and Wipes have always stood for good old-fashioned toughness.  Brawny® wants to share the inspiring stories to those everyday heroes out there – the folks who truly define what tough is.  Want to know what it means to be tough to the core? Check out the inspiration video series featuring Everyday Heroes from Brawny®.

Connect with  @Brawny on Twitter and Brawny® on Facebook and BrawnyBrand on Instagram  and tell us how you’re Tough to the Core.

How do you inspire others to be tough?  Have you helped a friend or family member discover their inner toughness?

Disclosure: This is a compensated campaign that I am participating in with Brawny. All opinions are my own and do not reflect those of the brand.

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